Dogs explore their world by tasting and chewing and as a result, they may swallow foreign objects that can potentially make them sick. Although some objects may be small enough to swallow and pass through the digestive tract with minor consequences, others may get stuck or do damage at some point—in the mouth, throat, oesophagus, stomach or intestines and time is of the essence.
Recently, a dog came through to our animal hospital with a canned tin lodged in his mouth, after attempting to lick into the tin to get the last bits of food. The dog was sedated and examined. The opening of the lid had lacerated the dog’s tongue, however due to timeous and appropriate treatment the tongue was thankfully able to be salvaged. With a few days of medical care and hospitalisation, the dog was able to go home with its tongue intact.
Help! My dog ate an aluminium can. What should I do?
If your dog eats something sharp and pointy, such as cooked chicken bones, or a tasty canned tin that he found digging through the waste, you’ll want to prevent further damage by taking them to your nearest vet as soon as possible. Anything a dog swallows can be dangerous and can kill them, so it’s important to go to the vet as soon as possible. Attempting to treat your dog at home could have irreversible consequences.
Tips for Preventing Your Dog from Eating Dangerous Household Objects
Although it’s almost impossible to stop dogs from putting things in their mouths, here are some preventive measures you can take:
– Always supervise your dog while they’re chewing on toys or treats.
– Avoid keeping moisture-swollen (well-chewed) dog chews around your home that can break apart easily.
– Be diligent in picking up items like socks and underwear.
– Remove large pips from fruit and dispose of them safely.
– Take away chew toys and natural chews before they reach a size small enough to fit fully inside your dog’s mouth.
– Don’t leave dog toys lying around when you are not home to supervise.
– Place your waste in places that they cannot rummage through to avoid them from ingesting foreign objects.
Our SPCA Animal Hospital in Grassy Park offers affordable rates for pet owners who can’t afford the services of private vets. The cost of treatment will depend on your income.
In the event of an emergency, your sick and/or injured pet can be brought to the hospital between 8am and 4pm weekdays.
Our hospital can be contacted on 021 700 4145 or email hospital@spca-ct.co.za